Container for breakable articles



Dec. 13, 1966 H. D. P. KOENE 3,291,365

CONTAINER FOR BREAKABLE ARTICLES Filed April 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORI HEIVDH/K DR hDE/VE A TTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1966 H. D. P. KOENE3,291,365

CONTAINER FOR BREAKABLE ARTICLES Filed April 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. HE'NDR/K D. P- KDENE BMW? 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1966 P. KOENE3,291,365

CONTAINER FOR BREAKABLE ARTICLES Filed April 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR! HENDR/K D. R KOENE ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1966 Filed April 5, 1965H D. P. KOENE CONTAINER FOR BREAKABLE ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORZ HENDR/K D P KOENE A FOR/V575 Dec. 13, 1966 H. D. P. KOENE3,291,365

CONTAINER FOR BREAKABLE ARTICLES Filed April 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. HENDR/K D P K0NE A YTORNE K5 ttes My invention relates to acontainer to be formed from a single sheet of thin material for a numberof fragile articles to be accommodated therein in a row, the saidcontainer comprising at least one compartment with two downwardlyconverging supporting walls, each of which are provided with a row ofrecesses serving to receive these articles.

Such containers are known. These known containers are disadvantageous inthat they either fail to ensure sufficient protection owing to the factthat the walls can be easily compressed, whereby the contents of thecontainer is damaged, or they present a proper protection, which is,however, connected with the drawback of their complicated position andthe fact that difficulties are experienced in setting them up.

It is an object of my invention to provide a container of theabovementioned kind which can be stored in a flat condition and, whenset up, ensures good protection for the articles to be packed,especially eggs, and which is capable of being set up fast and withoutrequiring special, complicated machines. It is a further object of myinvention to provide such a container which is constructed in such a waythat it can be folded from a single sheet of material, e.g. cardboard,in which are provided incisions and folding lines.

A further object of my invention is to provide a container in which thearticles to be packed are supported in such a way that the articles areprevented from sliding in a lateral direction.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a container withtwo compartments situated one beside the other.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container which isprovided with a grip, thereby facilitating the handling of thecontainer.

My invention further aims to provide such a container which is providedwith a cover portion which is bent over the container so as to close theupper side of the compartments. In this Way an entirely closed containeris obtained by simple means.

Another aim of my invention is to provide a container which permits thecontents of the container to be observed from the side. Therefore myinvention aims to provide apertures in the outer walls, the saidapertures being situated in front of the recesses in the supportingwalls.

A more complete understanding of my invention, and of further objectsand features thereof can be obtained from the following description ofillustrative embodiments thereof, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container according to theinvention",

FIGURE 2 is a front view of this container;

FIGURE 3 is a blank of cardboard into which inci sions have been made,which blank can be folded so as to form a container according to theFIGURES l and 2;

atent ice FIGURE 4 is a front view of a container with two compartments;

FIGURE 5 is a front view of such a container, which in this case isprovided with a cover to be folded over the upper side thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal section through a detail of the embodimentaccording to FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a container with two compartments;

FIGURE 8 is a view of an almost collapsed container, ready for storing,of the kind as shown in the FIGURES 4 and 7;

FIGURE 9 is a blank of an incised cardboard sheet which can be folded soas to form a container according to the FIGURES 4 and 7.

As is obvious from FIGURE 1 the container according to the inventionconsists of two downwardly converging supporting walls 1, 2,respectively, each of which on its upper side merges into one of theouter walls 3, 4, respectively, so as to enclose an acute angletherewith. The junction between the walls 1 and 3 is denoted by thereference 5 and the junction between the walls 2 and 4 is denoted by thereference 6. The distance between the outer walls is greater on thelower side of the container than on the upper side thereof. At thebottom of the container the outer wall 3 continues so as to form thepart 7, which is folded towards the outer wall 4; in an analogous waythe outer wall 4 continues so as to form the part 8, which is foldedtoward the wall 3. These bottom parts 7 and 8 are provided with tabs, aswill be described hereinafter, which on setting up the container engageto thereby form a coherent bottom. Partially circular or parabolicincisions 9 are provided in the supporting walls 1 and 2, as is alsoindicated in FIGURE 3, the arrangement being such that two cutouts 9 areoppositely situated. The upper portion 10a of the supporting tab 10released by the incisions, which portion in FIGURE 3 is hatched, isremoved by making an incision 11 in the longitudinal direction. In thisway the supporting tabs 10 are formed, which on folding the blank so asto form the container come to lie parallel to the bottom parts 7 and 8and constitute abutments for the outer walls 3 and 4.

Provided in the material 27 between these tabs 10 are further centrallysituated recesses 12. The articles to be packed bear upon the edges ofthese recesses 12 and against the edges 9 of the apertures in thesupporting walls 1 and 2 which are obtained after bending the tabs 10outwardly. It is evident that the shape of the cutouts 9 and therecesses 12 will be chosen depending on the nature and shape of thearticles to be packed. The embodiment shown is specially suitable forpacking round Christmas tree balls; if the package e.g. should beutilized for packing eggs, the cutouts should have a parabolic shape, asis shown in the FIGURES 7 and 9. The width of the apertures provided inthe supporting walls will be chosen in such a way that the packedarticles cannot come into contact with the outer walls.

The lower ends of the supporting walls 1 and 2 are kept together by thematerial which remains between these walls after making the incisions.

FIGURE 2 shows a front view of the container according to the invention,the container being intended for packing Christmas tree balls 13.

As is explained hereinbefore each ball 13 bears upon the edges of thecircular recess 12 and further retained by the edges 9 of the aperturesformed in the supporting walls. The dimensions of the container and ofthe recess in the supporting walls 1 and 2 are such that the ball 13 issituated in a definite spaced relationship from the outer walls 3 and 4.The outer walls 3 and 4 are spaced apart by the tabs 10, which afterpulling out the container from collapsed form are parallel to thebottom, the said tabs 10, as is described hereinbefore, constitutingabutments for the outer walls.

FIGURE 3 shows a cardboard blank which can be converted into thecontainer. This blank is provided with a number of incisions and foldinglines; the folding lines are indicated in dash lines in the figure. Thelines 5 and 6 are folding lines along which the cardboard is folded inorder to form the junctions between the supporting walls 1, 2,respectively and the outer walls 3, 4 respectively; the lines 14 and 15are folding lines on which the cardboard is folded in order to form thejunctions between the outer walls 3, 4 respectively and the bottom parts7, 8, respectively. After folding these bottom parts the tabs 15 and 16are engaged, so that the container remains in the erected position. Ifdesired the short walls of the tabs 15 and 16 are not perpendicular inthe usual way, but they may be at an acute angle in respect of the longside of the container, so that the tabs cannot so easily be disengaged.It is evident that the bottom parts 7 and 8 can also be secured to eachother in another way, for instance by forming tabs on only one bottompart, the said tabs fitting in corresponding incisions in the otherbottom part; it is furthermore possible to omit e.g. the bottom part 8entirely and to make the bottom part 7 extend through the overall widthof the container and to secure same by means of tabs which interlockwith suitable recesses in the outer wall 4 or to make the said bottompart adhere to the said outer wall.

Apertures 17 are further provided in the outer walls 3 and 4 whichenable the contents of the container to be observed not only from aboveand from front, but also from the side. It is evident that this may bedesirable especially when the container is used for packing novelties ortoys.

The upper ends of the container can be held together by one or morestrips of, possibly translucent adhesive tape 18. The container may alsobe entirely packed in cellophane, which may be provided with theconventional tear strip.

The FIGURES 4 to 9 show a container consisting of two oblongcompartments 19, 20, respectively (FIG. 7). Each compartment is providedwith two inclined, recessed, supporting walls, the eggs 26 beingaccommodated in the recesses. The compartment 19 has a supporting wall21, which is situated in the vicinity of the outer wall, and an innersupporting wall 22, the compartment 20 having an inner supporting wall23 and an outer supporting wall 24. The recesses 25 in these supportingwalls are more or less parabolic; the edges of the recesses support theeggs 26. The supporting walls 21 and 22, 23 and 24, respectively are attheir lower ends connected by connecting parts 27, in which are providedcircular apertures 28. The egg 26 bears on the edges of the aperture 28.

The outer supporting walls 21, 24, respectively are continued so as toform the upright outer walls 29, 30, respectively. The outer wall 29merges into the bottom part 31, which is almost at right anglestherewith. The bottom part 31 is continued so as to form a part 32,which is almost prependicular thereto and which is more or less parallelto the upright outer walls 29 and and by its upper edge supports theinner supporting walls 22 and 23 at the location of the connecting line33 of same.

The connecting parts 27 end in tabs 27', 27", respectively, which onsetting up the container assume a position which is more or lessparallel to the bottom and in between the upright supporting part 32 andthe outer walls 29 and 30. The outer walls are thereby prevented frombeing pushed inwardly; they therefore remain always in a definite, safe,spaced relationship from the eggs 26.

The outer wall 30 is also continued so as to form a portion 34 which isalmost at right angles therewith, the said portion extending under thebottom part 31 and beyond the upright portion 32 and being secured tothe said bottom part by gluing for instance.

It is evident that the outer walls 29 and 30 of the filled container insome way or other should be kept together in order to prevent thecontainer from opening. The weight of the contents (in this case theeggs) presses the connecting parts 27 downwardly, whereby the upperedges of the outer walls 29 and 30 are pulled toward one or the othervia the inclined supporting walls 21 and 24; in general, however, forthe sake of safety one or more adhesive strips 35 will be disposed onthe container.

FIGURE 4 shows clearly the mutual position of the faces when thecontainer is pulled out of the collapsed form in order to receive theeggs.

FIGURE 8 shows that the container in collaped form occupies very littlespace, so that a large number of collapsed containers can be stored in alimited space. The supporting part 32 is then in the flat positionbetween the bottom part 34 and the supporting walls 23 and 24; thesupporting part 27 and the tabs 27' and 27" are in one plane with thesupporting walls 23 and 24, 21 and 22, respectively. The arrowsrepresented in FIGURE 8 indicate in which way the container is pulledout of the collapsed form. FIGURE 5 shows an embodiment, in which thecompartments of the container are covered by a cover. This embodiment isin principle equal to those as described hereinbefore, but in this casethe part 24a which extends underneath the bottom part 31a continues soas to form a portion 36, which is parallel to the upright wall 29a. Theportion 36 is prolonged so as to form a cover 37 which is folded overthe open upper sides of the compartments and by means of a tab 38secured to the outer wall 30a. In this way there is obtained an entirelyclosed container. If desired viewing apertures whether or not sealed bycellophane can be provided in the cover, the said apertures permittingthe contents to be checked at a glance. These apertures are not shown inthe drawing.

FIGURE 5 shows still another detail which in itself may also be appliedto the first embodiment described with reference to the FIGURES 4, 7 and8. The upright supporting part 32a is prolonged so as to form a grip 39(shown in side elevation in FIGURE 6), which on setting up the containeris inserted in a suitable oblong aperture in the edge shaped junction33a between the walls 22a and 23a. Such an aperture is also provided inthe cover 37; this enables the filled container to be carried by thegrip 39, the eggs bearing on the connecting parts 27a, which transmitthe weight to the upper edge of the upright supporting part 32a.

FIGURE 9 finally shows a blank which can be formed into the containeraccording to the invention. In this case it is .a container of the typeas depicted in the FIG- URES 4 and 7. The dash lines in the figureindicate lines of weakening on which the various faces 29, 30, 31, 32and 34 of the cardboard should be folded in the directions as indicatedin FIGURE 8. A number of parallel incisions are made in the cardboardwhich constitute the apertures 25 in the upright supporting walls 21, 2223 and 24. These incisions denoted by 40 in the figures have a parabolicshape; an incision 41 parallel to the folding lines is made in thevicinity of the top, so that the hatched portion 49 is removed from thecardboard. In this way the tabs 27 and 27", provided with flat edges,are formed, the said tabs, as described hereinbefore, hearing againstthe outer walls, the upright supporting part respectively. The circularapertures 28 are blanked out of the cardboard, the said apertures beingdestined to receive the eggs, as is described hereinbefore.

The blank for forming the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is identical tothe blank shown in FIG. 9 with the following exceptions: the end ofsection 32 is formed with the handle 39, and section 34 is extended sothat it is long enough to pass "beneath the entire bottom of thecontainer, sections 36 and 37 are added to the end of enlarged section34, and a tab is added to the end of section 37. Furthermore, section 37is provided with a slot for accommodating handle 39, and section 30 isprovided with a slot for accommodating tab 38.

It is evident, that the manufacture of the blanks, which eventually areconverted into egg containers, is not expensive, since no complicatedfigures need be cut out, so that the cutting means can be of simpleconstruction, while the folding edges, too, are simple straight lines.This results in that a number of diflferent patterns and sizes can bemanufactured which as to shape and dimensions of the container and theincisions are adapted to different kinds of articles, only a moderateinvestment being required.

Two examples have been given hereinbefore in relation to the way inwhich the outer walls of the container can be kept together, viz. bymeans of an adhesive strip or through the agency of a cover. It isevident that it is also possible to pack the container entirely incellophane, a tear strip being provided in the usual Way in thecellophane.

Due to the stable form of the container it is possible to stack a numberof containers. When the container is provided with a handle an oblongaperture may be made in the under surface of the bottom parts 34, 34a,respectively in which can be inserted the handle of the containersituated thereunder. In this way the containers are prevented fromsliding on one the other.

It is furthermore possible to form two protruding tabs on the uprightsupporting piece 32, 32a respectively, the said tabs extending throughcorresponding apertures in the junction edge 33, corresponding aperturesbeing likewise formed in the bottom of the container. In this way, too,the stacked, filled containers are prevented from sliding on one theother. The said tabs may moreover be mutually connected by means of athin flexible string, so that a grip is formed. In this way a handle isobtained without it being necessary to form a long slit in the bottom.

It should be finally noted that the container can be adapted to anarbitrary number of articles. It is possible to provide a breaking line,consisting of a number of local perforations. Such a breaking line isindicated in the FIGURES 7 and 9 by the dot dash line 43. A containerfor ten eggs can then easily be divided into a container for four eggsand a container for six eggs.

Having thus described the invention and manner of its operation what Iclaim as my invention is:

1. A container to be folded from a single sheet of thin material for anumber of fragile articles to be accommodated therein in a row, the saidcontainer comprising at least one compartment with two downwardlyconverging supporting walls, each of said supporting walls beingprovided with a row of cutouts serving to receive these articles, eachsupporting wall adjoining at its upper edge an adjacent outer wall, eachouter wall extending as far as the bottom of the container and enclosingan acute angle with the said supporting wall, and a bottom wall joiningthe lower edges of said outer walls, the cutouts being formed bysymmetrical and oppositely situated pairs of curved incisions, providedin the material in such manner that their ends directed towards eachother do not touch each other, the tops of said cutouts being directedtowards the upper edge of the associated supporting wall, the supportingwalls at a short distance from the bottom being mutually connected byflat connecting parts formed by the material intermediate the ends ofthe cutouts, supporting tabs being provided on either side of theseconnecting parts, the ends of the said tabs contacting the adjacentouter wall, the tabs being obtained by pushing outwardly the materialremoved from said cutouts.

2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that theconnecting parts are provided with openings shaped in such a way thatthey support the articles and prevent same from sliding in a lateraldirection.

3. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the containerconsists of two compartments situated one beside the other, theconvergent supporting walls of said comparments merging into each other,the outer wall of one of said compartments extending to form a partwhich extends underneath the supporting tabs of its respectivecompartment and continues as far as the upper joined edge of saidsupporting Walls so as to form an upright intermediate wall between theadjacent supporting walls, the outer wall of the other compartmentextending to form a second bottom part, which extends underneath thesupporting tabs of the second compartment and adjoins the first bottompart.

4. A container to be folded from a single sheet of thin material for anumber of fragile articles to be accommodated therein in a row, saidcontainer comprising two compartments situated one beside the other,each compartment being provided with two downwardly convergingsupporting walls each provided with a row of recesses serving to receivethe articles, the outer supporting wall of each compartment adjoining atits upper edge an adjacent outer wall, said outer walls extending to thebottom of the container and enclosing an acute angle with theirrespective supporting walls, the inner Supporting walls being joined toeach other at their top 'edges, the outer wall of one of saidcompartments extending to form a bottom part which extends underneaththe supporting walls and continues as far as the upper edge of the innersupporting walls so as to form an upright intermediate wall between theadjacent supporting walls, the outer wall of the other compartmentextending to form a second bottom part which also extends under thesupporting walls of said other compartment, said supporting walls beingprovided with symmetrical and oppositely situated pairs of curvedcutouts provided in the material in such a manner that their ends whichare directed towards each other do not touch each other, their topsbeing directed towards the upper edge of the associated supporting wall,the supporting walls at a short distance from the bottom being mutuallyconnected by flat connecting parts formed by the material intermediatethe ends of the cutouts, supporting tabs being provided on either sideof these connecting parts, the ends of the said tabs contacting theadjacent outer wall and the tabs being obtained by pushing outwardly thematerial removed from the cutouts 5. A container according to claim 4,characterized in that the erect, intermediate wall supporting the innersupporting walls may be provided with tabs which protrude beyond thesupporting walls, the tabs being accommodated in corresponding aperturesin the connecting edge of the adjacent supporting walls.

6. A container according to claim 4, characterized in that said erect,intermediate wall supporting the inner supporting walls is provided witha protruding, U-shaped part forming a grip, and accommodated in acorresponding aperture in the connecting edge of the adjacent supportingwalls.

7. A container according to claim 4, characterized in that the bottompart associated with said other compartment continues under the bottompart associated with said one compartment to form a portion whichassumes an upright position, the latter extending over the outer side ofthe adjacent outer wall and extending into an integral cover portion,which is bent over the container so as to close the upper side of thecompartments.

8. A container according to claim 1, characterized in 7 8 that aperturesare provided in the outer walls, the said 2,197,510 4/1940 Ringler 22928apertures being situated in front of the recesses in the 2,301,04211/1942 Hanson 229-28 supporting walls. I 2,887,265 5/1959 Glaser 22928References Cited by the Examiner 5 OTHER REFERENCES UNITED STATESPATENTS 473,461 10/1937 Great Britain. 1,347,899 7/1920 Edington 229-3993,152 12/1958 Norway- 1,763,588 6/1930 Johnson 229-28 I 1,972,7079/1934 Gross JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Prlmary Examiner. 2,091,960 9/1937Brundin 22929 10 D. T. MOORHEAD, Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER TO BE FOLDED FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF THIN MATERIAL FOR ANUMBER OF FRAGILE ARTICLES TO BE ACCOMMODATED THEREIN IN A ROW, THE SAIDCONTAINER COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE COMPARTMENT WITH TWO DOWNWARDLYCONVERGING SUPPORTING WALLS, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING WALLS BEINGPROVIDED WITH A ROW OF CUTOUTS SERVING TO RECEIVE THESE ARTICLES, EACHSUPPORTING WALL ADJOINING AT ITS UPPER EDGE AN ADJACENT OUTER WALL, EACHOUTER WALL EXTENDING AS FAR AS THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER AND ENCLOSINGAN ACUTE ANGLE WITH THE SAID SUPPORTING WALL, AND A BOTTOM WALL JOININGTHE LOWER EDGES OF SAID OUTER WALLS, THE CUTOUTS BEING FORMED BYSYMMETRICAL AND OPPOSITELY SITUATED PAIRS OF CURVED INCISIONS, PROVIDEDIN THE MATERIAL IN SUCH MANNER THAT THEIR ENDS DIRECTED TOWARDS EACHOTHER DO NOT TOUCH EACH OTHER, THE TOPS OF SAID CUTOUTS BEING DIRECTEDTOWARDS THE UPPER EDGE OF THE ASSOCIATED SUPPORTING WALL, THE SUPPORTINGWALLS AT A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE BOTTOM BEING MUTUALLY CONNECTED BYFLAT CONNECTING PARTS FORMED BY THE MATERIAL INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OFTHE CUTOUTS, SUPPORTING TABS BEING PROVIDED ON EITHER SIDE OF THESECONNECTING PARTS, THE ENDS OF THE SAID TABS CONTACTING THE ADJACENTOUTER WALL, THE TABS BEING OBTAINED BY PUSHING OUTWARDLY THE MATERIALREMOVED FROM SAID CUTOUTS.